Clamp for sewer-opening protectors and the like.



E. N. DIERKS. CLAMPEOR SEWER OPENING PROTECTORS AND THE LIKE.

v APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3. IEIIE). 1,197,803. Patented Sept. 12,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.l

FRANK NaDIERKS, OE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, .ASSICrNORY TO SAMUEL W.GOLDMAN, OF

. ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CLAMP FOR SEWER-OPEN IN G- PROTECTORS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent;V Patented SQpt. 12, 19176.

Application filed December 13, 1915. SeriaINo. 66,613.

To all 207mm t mayconcem:

Be it known that I, FRANK N. DIERKs, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Clamps for Sewer-Opening Protectorsvand Vclampinga cover or the like in an opening without injuring the walls of theopening.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedlocked grate for sewer openings which will prevent wires and sticks frombeing inserted therein, and yet allow a free passage therethrough forair or other fluids.

A further object is to provide a device of tliis'character which will besimpl-e, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, eflicient andreliable in operation and one which will be well adapted to the purposefor which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, Vthe invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a central vertical sectionalview of a sewer vent pipe provided with a cover plate and a clampconstructed in accordance with the invention, the latter being shown inelevation before the same is tightened; Fig. 2 is a central verticalsectional View of a sewer vent pipe provided with the cover plate andclamp, the latter being tightened `to bindingly engage the wall of thepipe; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3*.6 ofFig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the Vimproved lock or clampcomprises a gripping member in the form of a pair of spacedsemi-circular plates 1 and 2 arranged in parallel planes and disposedrelation with their curved edges 3 and 4 rein staggered spectivelyextending in opposite directions. A' cylindrical shank 5 projectingperpendicularly from the adjacent sides of the plates 1 and 2,integrally connects the same:

together. The plate 2 1s provided with an oblong opening 6 near itscurved edge 4.

Extending through the opening 6 and the plate 2 is one-end 7 of an armor hanger member 8, said end-7 being smallerin cross section than theopening 6. 'A pair of lugs 9 extend laterally from the opposite edges ofthe arm Sat the end 7, whereby to provide a pair of shoulders 10 `whichrest upon one side place by a pinl 11 passing through an aperture 12 inthe aforesaid end7.v It may be y*seen that from this arrangement, aloose pivotal connection is arm Sand the *Y the arm 8 is curvedlongitudinally inwardly around the plate 1 and is provided with anenlargement 13 having a threaded aperture 14 therein, and operativelyengaged in this aperture 14 is a threaded screw 15. Y

In Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, this clamp is shown inserted in asewer vent pipe 16 and kusedin connection with a grate or perforatedcover 17 which rests upon an annular shoulder. 18 in the pipe 16. Thisplate 17 has a central'fopening 19 through which provided between the isinserted the aforesaid screw 15, a washer 20 being disposed between theVformer and the head 21 of the latter. The device being thus inserted inthe pipe 16, the plates 1 and 2 are expanded by turning the screw 15until its end 22 is brought into engagement with the plate 1.V Owing tothe loose pivotal connection between the arm 8 and the plate 2, bothplates 1 and 2 will be canted or tipped to one side, thus causing thecurved edges 3 and 4 ofthe latter to be brought into gripping engagementwith the inner walls of the pipe 16 and locking the plate 17 firmly. inplace. To loosen the plate 17 so it can be removed, it is only necessaryto turn the screw 15 in the reverse direction.

The intermediate portions of the plates 1 and 2 are thickened as at 23to make them:

plate 2. The other end of of the plate 2. The arm 8 is held in f' of asewer vent pipe equipped with this improved clamp allows the freepassage of air and fluids through the pipe and yet prevents wires,sticks and the like from being inserted through the openings in thecover plate. An improved means is also provided for clamping any form ofcover to an opening without injuring the walls of the latter.

Although the device is shown used in connection with a cover plate for asewer vent pipe, it is obvious that it is equally adapted to be used inconnection with an air grate cover or flue stop.

Various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention, and hence I do not wish tolimit myself to the construction herein shown and described other thanthat set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a sewer pipe and a cover plate for said pipe, ofa screw eX- tending through the central portion of said plate, alongitudinally curved arm having an apertured head at one end thereof,the aperture in said head being internally threaded for engagement withthe threaded end of said screw, and a gripping member pivotally mountedon the other end of said arm and adapted to be engaged by the end ofsaid screw and forced into a canted position into engagement with saidpipe.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hanger member, apair of spaced plates arranged in staggered relation pivoted to saidmember, and means for canting said plates, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. A device of the character described comprising an arm having athreaded aperture in one end thereof, a pair of spaced plates arrangedin staggered relation pivoted to the other end of said arm, and a screwoperating in said aperture, one end of said bolt engaging one of saidplates whereby to tilt the latter, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

4. A device of the character described comprising an arm having athreaded aperture in one end thereof, a pair of spaced parallel platesarranged in staggered relation, a shank connecting said plates, one ofsaid plates being pivoted to the other end of said arm, and a screwoperating in said aperture and having one of its ends engaging the otherplate whereby to cant said plates, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

5. A device of the character described comprising a cover plate, an armcarried thereby, a pair of spaced parallel plates arranged in staggeredrelation pivoted to one end of said arm, and means for canting saidplates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hanger member, apair of spaced semi-circular plates carried thereby, the intermediateportions of said plates be ing thickened, a reinforcing rib on one sideof one of said plates, a shank connecting said plates, and means forcanting said plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK N. DIERKS. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. Bncnnns, JOSEPH WULF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G."

